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George Washington led the American army to win our freedom against the King of England in 1776. After the American Revolution, George Washington was chosen to be our first President because he was a hero who could be trusted.

 

Why did George become a hero and a President?  It was because of the lessons he learned when he was a young boy.

 

In the spring of 1737 when George was young and lived on a farm, a cousin brought him an apple. George’s father, Augustine Washington, told George, “There will be plenty of apples for you later, George. You should share this one with your brothers and sisters.” But George did not want to share his apple, and it made his father sad.

 

A few months later, George’s father took him and his cousin to an orchard near the family farm. When they arrived at the orchard, they saw a wonderful sight. The ground was covered with fruit as far as the eye could see. And the limbs on the trees bent low under the weight of the bright red apples that hung in clusters like grapes.

 

“Do you remember when I told you last spring that you would soon have more apples than you could eat? And yet you did not want to share.”

 

George hung his head and scratched his bare toes in the loose dirt trying to think of what he should say. “Pa, please forgive me this time and see if I am ever so stingy again.”

 

A few years later, George’s father talked to him about learning to be truthful and honest.

 

“George, you must always try to do what is right. But if you find that you have done something wrong, you should tell me the truth about it. It is better to tell the truth than it is to live with a lie. Children who learn to tell the truth grow up to be known as honest and trustworthy.”

 

“Some parents spank their children even when they tell the truth about what they did wrong. They think this will teach them not to lie. These children learn to hide the truth when they have done something wrong so they won’t be punished. When they grow up, people can hardly believe anything they say.”

 

“Pa, do I ever tell lies?” asked George.

 

“No, I thank God,” said George’s father. “But if you ever do something wrong, do not hide it from me. Come bravely to me and tell me what you did and I will honor your courage.”

 

It was not long after George’s father told him about telling the truth that George found himself in trouble.

 

George had been given a small hatchet as a present. All morning long, he had great fun cutting small pieces of scrap wood with his hatchet.

 

Soon George ran out of wood to cut. When he went into his father’s garden he saw a small cherry tree that had just been planted. With one swift stroke from his hatchet, the tree fell to the ground. When George saw what he had done, he was afraid. He ran from the garden and hid his hatchet. 

 

That evening when George’s father came home, he saw that his favorite cherry tree had been cut down and he was very angry. He called his entire household together, and asked them who had cut down his cherry tree.

 

When George heard his father ask about the cherry tree he felt very badly. But he remembered that his father had taught him to tell the truth.

 

Young George stepped up and said, “Father, I cannot tell a lie. I chopped down the cherry tree with my new hatchet.”

 

George closed his eyes and expected to be punished. He knew he had done something very wrong.

 

“Come into my arms, George,” said his father. George opened his eyes and was surprised to see a smile on his father’s face.

 

“I am glad that you killed my cherry tree, George. For it has shown me that you will always tell me the truth. My son, your act of courage is worth more to me than a thousand cherry trees, even if their flowers were silver and their fruits were of purest gold.”

 

It was in this way that George’s parents taught him both by heart and by head the difference between right behavior and wrong. This helped George know how to choose the path of virtue when he became an adult.

 

Years later when George Washington was President his character was tested again. Many people wanted George to become the King of America. He was offered a crown and the power to rule for life.

 

But George remembered the war he had fought in to free America from the English King. He also remembered the values his parents had taught him. The power to rule America should not be given to one person, it should be shared with all the people, so George turned down the chance to become the King of America.

 

George’s decision allowed the American people to choose their next President by voting. We still have the right to vote today because George Washington did what was right.

 

Because George Washington chose what was best for America, he set an example for all leaders to come.

 

Today we remember George Washington as a hero. His face appears on the dollar bill, on the quarter, and on Mount Rushmore. Our capitol and one of our states is named after him, and a tall monument in Washington, D.C. helps us remember him.

 

Our country is lucky that our first President was honest, truthful, and wanted to always do what was right. We are lucky that his parents taught him how to choose right from wrong. If we can learn the same lessons that George

 

Washington learned when he was a child, then our country will always be a free and wonderful place to live and play.

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Note: Annette Bertrand Elliott is the great x 7 granddaughter of M. L. Weems and a “cousin” of George Washington. George Washington died in December 1799 and the original version of this story appeared in about 1806.

For more about Alan Elliott's books, click here to visit his home page.

(c) Copyright Alan C. Elliott, 1988-2008